PARMIGIANO REGGIANO P.D.O. 24 Months Aged
24 Month Aged P.D.O. Parmigiano
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is a product with the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Cheese produced according to the rules contained in the Production Regulation is the only cheese entitled to bear the Parmigiano Reggiano mark and, therefore, the wheel must display all the marks required for identifying and distinguishing the product.
Parmigiano Reggiano is produced exclusively in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna to the left of the Reno river, and Mantua to the right of the Po river: this is the area hosting the farms where the cattle are fed on locally grown forage. The feeding of cattle complies with the norms of a strict specification that bans the use of silage, fermented feeds and animal flour.
The milk from the morning and the previous evening is poured into the traditional upturned bell-shaped copper vats. It takes about 550 litres of milk to produce each wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano. The milk slowly and naturally coagulates with the addition of rennet and a whey starter, rich in starter cultures, from the previous day’s processing. The curd which forms is then broken down by the master cheese-maker into minuscule granules using a traditional tool called “spino”.
This is where fire comes into the picture, in a cooking process that reaches 55 degrees centigrade, after which the cheesy granules sink to the bottom of the cauldron forming a single mass. After about fifty minutes the cheese-maker removes the cheese mass which will give rise to two twin wheels.
Cut into two parts and wrapped in the typical linen cloth, the cheese is then placed in a mould which will give it its final shape. A casein plate with a unique and sequential alphanumeric code is applied to each wheel: it is its identity card that makes it possible to trace its entire production back to its origins, anytime and anywhere.
After a few hours, a special marking band engraves the month and year of production onto the cheese, as well as its cheese factory registration number and the unmistakable dotted inscriptions around the complete circumference of the cheese wheel. After a few days, the wheels are immersed in a saturated solution of water and salt: it is a process of salting by osmosis. This last passage closes the production cycle of Parmigiano Reggiano and starts its maturation period.
The story of Parmigiano-Reggiano is a long one, and also a slow one, following the natural rhythm of the seasons.
In fact, the minimum maturation time is 12 months, the longest among all the PDO cheeses, and only at this point can it be decided if each individual wheel is worthy of the name it was given at its birth, and therefore continue the maturation up to 24, 36, 40 months and more.
The different degrees of maturation give rise to varying aromatic sensations and make it particularly versatile in the kitchen and suitable for several preparations and pairings:
12- 18 Months – Smooth and delicate in flavour, these cheeses boast subtle notes of milk, yoghurt, and fresh fruit, creating a harmonious palate. Ideal for aperitifs, they pair seamlessly with sparkling white wines and add richness to salads and cold dishes. Their mild and creamy texture distinguishes them from older, traditional Parmesans, yet they retain the quintessential goodness and flavour characteristic of the renowned cheese. Treat them akin to a fine cheddar, as their vibrant and fresh creamy taste shines, making them an unparalleled choice for salads, sandwiches, or enjoyed on their own.
22-24 Months – Crumbly and grainy, these finely aged and versatile Parmesans strike the ideal harmony between mildness and tastiness. Infused with nuanced notes of fresh fruit, nuts, and meat stock, they complement a variety of flavours. Pair them seamlessly with medium-body wines or use them to enhance the flavours of traditional Italian dishes.
30-36 Months – These cheeses are carefully matured, which gives them a stronger character compared to their younger counterparts. They have a harder, crunchier consistency and a delightful, long-lasting taste of fruit and nuts. This makes them an ideal ingredient for pasta or, at the end of a meal, paired with fruit and honey. These cheeses can also be grated onto stronger tasting sauces and are lovely in salads. You can try them on their own, accompanied by an aged balsamic vinegar and a glass of fine wine. The cheeses aged 30+ months have an extra depth of flavour that is truly remarkable!
More than 40 months – A rare Parmesan cheese that must be savoured. This cheese is aged for an extended period, producing extremely complex flavours of almond, chestnut, toasted caramel, and spices, with a unique granular texture that adds crunchiness to the bite. It is usually harder to find, making it a great gift. This cheese pairs perfectly with full-bodied red or dessert wines and aged balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients: MILK, Salt, Rennet, Dry Matter Fat Content Minimum 32%
Origin: Italy
SELECT YOUR DELIVERY DATE AT THE CHECKOUT (TUES - SAT)
COURIER DELIVERY (Tuesday-Saturday)
SHIPPING RATES (UK MAINLAND ONLY)
Please ensure you select the correct shipping option at the checkout.
| EXPRESS BY END OF DAY (Tues-Sat) Between 7am - 8pm | £8.50 |
| EXPRESS BY 1PM (Tues-Fri) Between 7am - 1pm | £12.50 |
| SATURDAY BY 1PM Between 8am - 1pm | £24.50 |
DELIVERY DATE SELECTION
All orders received before 2pm can be dispatched the same day (Mon-Fri), unless a specific future date is selected using the drop down calendar on the basket page of our website.
For future date deliveries select the Express delivery option that best suits your needs, End of Day. Pre 1pm. We deliver Tuesday through until Saturday, we do not deliver on Sunday.
EXPRESS DELIVERY
All of our parcels are shipped on an express next working day service as standard, on the day before you have selected to receive it, usually with DPD or DHL. In accordance with all UK courier terms and conditions it is not guaranteed that your parcel will arrive the next day. Please consider this when planning for an event or party whereby goods absolutely have to be delivered on time.
If your parcel is time sensitive then please use the EXPRESS BY 1 PM option.
Please be prepared to receive your delivery anytime from 7am - 8pm, unless you have selected the pre 1pm service. We ask that you choose a delivery date when you are in to accept delivery. If you are not going to be in please contact us to ensure that safe place instructions are passed on to the courier.
CHANGES TO YOUR DELIVERY
Any attempt to change your delivery address or divert your parcel once it has been despatched is done so at your own risk. Please make sure all delivery information is correct when placing your order. We cannot be liable for loss or delay of parcels whereby the customer has requested to change the delivery address whilst their order is in transit, this includes the request made to deliver to a pick up shop. There can be a minimum of a 24 hour delay when choosing to divert your parcel to a DPD pick-up shop so choosing this option or 'leave in a safe place' is done at your own risk. We cannot be liable for theft or spoilage of goods whereby you were not available to personally receive them on the day you requested on the calendar.
SATURDAY DELIVERY
If you have selected Saturday as a delivery date please be aware that over the weekends we have no access to courier phone or email support so it is essential that you provide any 'additional delivery information' in the "notes" section when placing your order so you parcel is successfully delivered.
Saturday delivery is available for UK mainland only.
LOCAL PICK UP
You can collect your order from our warehouse between 8am - 5pm Monday - Friday. Simply select the PICK UP option after the basket page of our website at the checkout. Your order can be ready to collect within 30 minutes. Please feel free to call us to arrange if the date you selected on the basket page refers to courier delivery (Next Day). +44 (0) 1732 757 770
Warehouse address;
UNIT 16 CHAUCER BUSINESS PARK,
WATERY LANE,
SEVENOAKS.
TN15 6PL
PACKAGING
For the shipping fresh and frozen goods we use high quality mixed recyclable insulated packaging to keep your products perfect through the courier network.
To keep frozen goods at the correct temperature we use a safe alternative to dry ice. These gel packs freeze to a temperature of -45° and stay frozen for an extended period of time. Completely food safe and fully recyclable/reusable.
JERSEY, ISLE OF MAN, GUERNSEY
Please note that deliveries to Jersey, Isle of Man, and Guernsey are available from Tuesday to Friday only with our courier partner is DHL Express. To select the Jersey option at checkout, please refer to the delivery charges that apply for these areas, which are subject to an additional fee due to the high cost of shipping perishable items. The stepped delivery charges are as follows:
| Orders of £150 and below | £55.00 |
| Orders above £150 and up to £200 | £45.00 |
| Orders above £200 | £35.00 |
NORTHERN IRELAND
For deliveries to Northern Ireland, please select the Northern Ireland option for a charge of £18.50. Please note that we do not deliver to Northern Ireland on Saturdays. Our courier partner is DHL Express.
SCOTLAND PRE 1PM
Please be advised that our courier partners do not offer pre 1pm service in certain parts of Scotland. The following areas are not covered by the pre 1pm service:
- Aberdeen & Grampian AB10 to AB30, AB32 & AB39
- Dunbartonshire G83 to G90
- Fife KY8 to KY10, KY14 to KY16
- Glasgow and Greater Glasgow G63
- Perthshire PH1 to PH14
- Stirlingshire FK16
- Tayside DD1 to DD11
If you have paid for a pre 1pm service and you reside in any of the above-mentioned areas, we will automatically refund you and notify you that your parcel will not be delivered by 1pm. We strongly advise opting for delivery at least a day before you need items if you are in any part of Scotland. Even in the areas covered by the pre 1pm service, the logistics of getting parcels from the main hubs to Scotland can lead to issues and time delays.
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS
Please be informed that we are unable to guarantee next day delivery to certain areas of Scotland. For these specific postcodes, we utilise Royal Mail's special delivery service:
- Stirlingshire FK17 to FK21
- Shetland ZE1 to ZE3
- Argyll and Scottish Islands PA20 to PA78, HS1 to HS9, PH42 to PH44
- Highlands PH19 to PH41, PH49-PH50
- Perthshire PH15 to PH18
- Orkney KW15 to KW17
- Inverness and Highlands IV1 to IV63, KW1 to KW14
- Grampian AB31 to AB56
- Ayrshire KA27, KA28
If we are not confident that we can deliver your items the following day, and if we believe that the products are too high risk to be in transit for two days, we will contact you and advise accordingly.
SELECT YOUR DELIVERY DATE AT THE CHECKOUT (TUES - SAT)
TRANSIT TIMES & PACKAGING
All ingredients that we sell are hand selected choosing from the best product available.
We only use premium express courier services and aim to have produce out of our hands and into yours in the shortest possible time.
All perishable goods orders are safely packed in high quality mixed recyclable insulated packaging to keep your products perfect through the courier network, guaranteeing freshness for a minimum of 2 full days in transit. Much longer in colder seasons.
FROZEN PRODUCTS
The vast majority of frozen food shipments arrive frozen but we cannot guarantee this. In the event that your order has defrosted it should still be at a very low temperature when you receive it and therefore fine to put in straight in your freezer. Refreezing is only unsafe if the product has reached 8°c. It is worth mentioning that supermarkets routinely sell defrosted food as "fresh", with the advice that it may be frozen when you get home.
FRESH TRUFFLES
All fresh truffles are sent in a foil resealable pack with an absorbent paper. This is suitable for storing in your fridge. If storing truffles for more than a few days we recommend wrapping them in paper towel or using a Tuberpac. Fresh truffles are always best consumed as soon as possible.